Adjustable handle connection for floor machines



April 1954 E. L. VERHAGEN 2,676,067

ADJUSTABLE HANDLE CONNECTION FOR FLOOR MACHINES Filed Aug. 3, 1950 I v 2Sheets-Sheet 1 F|G.l 22

I" I: 37 i FIG. 2 29 Y.

22 32 i 30 ll 2| 1 20 I2 23 23 lli 35 o 28 28 IO 35 INVENTOR.

Edwdrd L.Verhugen mwy 4 April 20, 1954 a. 1.. VERHAGEN ADJUSTABLE HANDLECONNECTION FOR FLOOR MACHINES Filed Aug. 3, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. Edward L. Verhogen A1"rorney Patented Apr. 20. 1954 ADJUSTABLEHANDLE CONNECTION FOR FLOOR MACHINES Edward L. Verhagen, Rahway, N. Jassignor to The Regina Corporation, Rahway, N. J a corporation of NewYork Application August 3, 1950, Serial No. 177,404

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to a handl mounting and casing formachines of the ambulant type, for instance, floor polishing machines,vacuum cleaners, and the like, in which a long handle is secured to themachine; so that the machine may be pushed and pulled along the floor orrug at a convenient angular disposition of the handle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a handle which issecured to a floor polishing machine or the like without any protrudingparts around the base thereof. It is also an object of the presentinvention to provide a handle which is pivotally mounted and directlysecured to the motor Within the casing.

In structures of the type here considered, heretofore in use, it hasbeen a common hazard for those using the machine that the bail or yokeused to secure the handle to the casing of the machine, would come intocontact with the base of furniture that might be in the area in whichthe machine was being used. This very often caused the lower portion ofthe furniture to be come scratched and marred. It is therefore an objectof the present invention to provide a means for mounting the handle tothe machine without the presence of any projecting parts that couldscratch or otherwise damage any furniture in the vicinity of the machinewhile in operation.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a structin'ewhich during operation will readily pass underneath various pieces offurniture, there being no protruding parts likely to interfere with itspassage. This will enable the operator to polish or clean those areasheretofore inaccessible by such machines.

It has also been a common fault of devices of the type here beingconsidered, in which the handle was secured to the lower part of themachine by means of a bail or yoke, that the bail or yoke would catchand become engaged in low hanging draperies or fringes on furniture. Itis therefore an object of the present invention to provide a structurewhich completely eliminates this danger. In a device embodying thepresent invention the handle is mounted within the casing and is mounteddirectly to the motor housing; thus, there are no protruding parts thatcould catch or become entangled with portions of the draperies or thefurniture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device ofthe type here considered which may be lifted by means of the long handlewithout the danger of the machine pivoting or tipping. This is veryimportant where the device is used to operate on stairs or counters. Itis important that when the operating surface is lifted from directsupport, that the machine remain level; otherwise the operator willexperience serious difficulty moving it about by lifting.

It is also important in devices of the type here under considerationthat it remain level While in operation. Some structures heretofore. inuse, have had a tendency to tip backwards when a force is applied on thehandle to move the machine forward, or to exert a downward force on themachine to aid in polishing or cleaning efiect. It is therefore afurther object of the present invention to provide a machine of theambulant type which will remain perfectly level While in operation, nomatter how great the downward component of the force exerted on thehandle may become.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will bemore readily apparent from the following description and drawing of onespecific embodiment of the present invention, in which drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a floor polishing machine embodying the presentinvention, with the casing partially broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partially broken away side view thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the casing.

The device shown in the drawings is a twin brush floor polishingmachine. However, it will be readily apparent that the invention setforth herein is also adaptable for use in all similar types of machinesof the ambulant type.

Polishing brushes II) are driven by motor ll through worm shafts l2 anddrive shafts [3. The motor [0 is entirely encased in housing M which inturn is mounted on base l5. Mounted on base I5 is the casing 16. Thering [8 is mounted on the housing [4 for pivotal movement relativethereto, and an elongated handle I! is secured to the ring [8 by meansof clamp I9.

The motor housing [4 consists of two members, the primary housing member20 and the housing end plate 2|. The two housing members 20 and 2| aresecured together by screws 22 which hold the housing end plate 2| firmlyagainst the primary housing member 20. On both sides of the motorhousing I4 are the worm housings 23. The worm shafts [2 are held inproper position by screws 24 and thrust bearing 25. The brushes 10 aredriven by drive shafts 13 which are connected with the worm shafts [2 bysuitable gears (not shown).

Lugs 26 extending downwardly from the housing extend into openings inthe base l5 which are surrounded by flanges 27. Screws 28, extendingupwardly through the base I5 and threaded into lugs 26 hold the motorhousing [4 and its associated parts securely in position against thebase l5.

Although the handle is shown .broken oii in all views, it extendsupwardly about three to four feet, the normal distance for such handles,and is provided at the upper end with a conventional hand grip. of thedevice namely the floor polishing machine, over the area to be polished,it is necessary that the handle I! be mounted in such a way that it canassume various angular positions relative to the machine. For thisreason the handle is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the lower.portion of the device which rides on the floor. or other area to bepolished.

To accomplish this pivotal .movement, the handle is. is. secured, byinsans. of clamp iii to ring 18. The i8. is fitted. onto the motorhousing id so. that it may rotate about the housing. To insure smoothrelative movement, the primary housing member. i2 is provided withoutwardly extendingv annular. ribs 29 and 39, the

outer. surfaces of, which. are machined to provide a. smooth bearingsurface for ring. 19. The ring 18. held against axial movement on oneside by small flange 3iv on annular rib 39, and on the other. side bythe edge of the housing end plate 2!. which has. an enlarged portion 32adapted to fit over the annular rib 29.

The casing 15 is secured to the base it by means oi three verticalbolts38. A bumper 3 is. provided withan upper lip 34 and a lower lip 35. Theupper 34 engages flange 35 at the bottom of, casing i9 and the lower lipengages the bottom of the base E5. The casing i5 is provided. with aslot 37 through which the handle 17 projects and is free to move.

As is apparent from the above, the entire devicev is enclosed withincasing l6 and base I5 with only the brushes i9 exposed at the bottom andthe handle i! extending out from the top.

As can be seen best from Fig. 3 the pivot point for the handle I? is thecenter of the circle formed by ring 58 which is approximately the centerof the motor ii. This point is only a very short distance behind thecenter of gravity of the machine and is also a small distance above thecenter of gravity of the machine. Because In moving the lower portion.

of this, when the machine is lifted from the iioor with the handle 11 ina vertical position, there is a very small force moment tending to tipthe machine from its normally horizontal position. The frictional forcebetween the ring 15 and the motor housing is is enough to overcome thistipping momentand thus hold the machine in its horizontal position. Itis to be noted that the instant the machine is lifted from the floor,its entire weight acts to increase the frictional force between themotor housing I4 and the ring 18.-

It should also be noted that no matter what position the handle 5?assumes during use of the polishing machine, the surface of the brushesextends far enoughback to act as a support and prevent any backwardtipping due to the downward force applied as the machine is used forpolishing.

I claim:

. Anambulant devicesuch as'a floorpolisher, vacuum cleaner, or the like,comprising a base, a motor housing mounted on the base, housing beingformed of two portions, one portion being a'cup-shaped member havingspaced circumferentialribs, one of said ribs having a flange thereon,and the other portion being a cap for the firstnamed portion, theexternal diameter of saidcap being substantially equal to'that of saidflange, a ring mountedonand surrounding the flrstnamed portion of saidhousing and bearing on. the ribs thereof for rotary movement relativetosaid housing ina vertical plane, said ring being held against axialmovement by said flange and said cap, and a handle mounted on said ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED erases PATENTS NumberName Date 990,506 Strange Apr. 25, 1911 1,094,950 Beach Apr. 21, 19141,119,392 Bernett Dec. 1, 1914 1,142,353 Morrow et al. June 8, 19151,224,292 Fisher May 1, 1917 1,578,750 Owen Mar. 30, 1925 1,882,471Beach Oct. 11,- 1932 2,098,348 Mason et a1 Nov. 9-, 1937 2,164,002 SaltJune '27, 1939 2,226,365 Becker Dec. 24, 1940 2,633,597 Turner Apr. 7,1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 263,221 Great Britain Mar. 31,1927

